# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S71
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

THEOLOGICAL MATTERS 71

Harms convoked a meeting of representatives of the
various Lutheran bodies in North America — a meeting
which resulted in the formation of what is now known
as the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship. The
commission has been actively participating in the work
of this intersynodical commission (ILCW) as it pre-
pares to publish its initial worship materials. It is an-
ticipated that the ILCW will publish — during the sum-
mer of 1969—a booklet of some 20 to 25 hymns for
experimental or provisional use in the participating
churches. Another leaflet or booklet will contain at
least one eucharistic service for similar experimental
or provisional use and is also scheduled for publication
this summer. The official report on the ILCW for the
biennium is given as an exhibit attached to this report.

The Commission on Worship has constantly been
aware that its materials should become part of the
responsible contributions toward the work of the ILCW
and has accordingly submitted its previously published
provisional agenda rites for study and consideration by
the ILCW’s Liturgical Texts Committee. The commis-
sion has readily incorporated into its work on Worship
Supplement some of the results from the ILCW-spon-
sored Ecumenical Consultation on Common Liturgical
Texts (i.e., the Apostolic Creed, the Nicene Creed, and
the Our Father). The ILCW has asked to have Worship
Supplement’s Eucharist—One made available as a sep-
arate print for use in the same manner as its own wor-
ship materials.

Because The Lutheran Agenda will soon be out of
print and interim needs would not appear to justify
the cost of reprinting, the commission has authorized
the use of the book The Occasional Services from the
Service Book and Hymnal until such time as an ILCW
agenda is available. The lectionaries of the Service
Book and Hymnal — both in the RSV and in the AV —
have been authorized by the commission for use as
alternates to The Lutheran Lectionary (published by
Concordia Publishing House) until such time as an
ILCW lectionary becomes available.

Since the “Proposed Rules of Organization and Pro-
cedure” of the ILCW were approved by the Synod’s
convention in New York, several emendations were
found to be necessary. Rather than detail them in this
report, the commission calls attention to the exhibit
which accompanies its memorial, where the present
wording of the document is given in full. The commis-
sion earnestly hopes that the Synod will accept the
memorial’s suggestions so that the convention be free
from such lengthy documents in the future.

District Committees on Worship

Following the recommendation of the Synod’s New
York convention (Resolution 2-10), the commission has
urged each District through its President to establish
a District Committee on Worship. As of the date that
this report is being submitted for publication, 25 Dis-
tricts have notified the commission’s office that they
have established a District Committee on Worship.
These committees vary in personnel from a one-man

committee to committees with seven members. The
commission plans a convocation on worship just prior
to the opening of the Synod’s convention in Denver —
for the benefit of District committeemen present at the
convention as well as for any other persons desiring
to attend. It also hopes to conduct workshops in various
areas of the Synod to help train District committeemen
for greater service to the congregations and pastors of
the District.
Worship-Gram

A newsletter or bulletin has been created by the
commission for the specific purpose of sharing concerns
and suggestions in the area of corporate worship with
the various parts of the Synod’s constituency. It is
to be hoped that this will appear at least quarterly.

Statement on Communion Practices

In its New York convention the Synod (Resolution
2-19) gave a summary answer to concerns expressed
regarding Communion practices. In view of the fact
that other synods within America’s Lutheran circles
have adopted definitive statements on the subject — the
most recent being that adopted by The American Lu-
theran Church at its 1968 Omaha convention — the
commission is of the opinion that the Synod should also
give its attention to a more definitive statement which
covers the various aspects of the question. Since this
matter also falls within the purview of the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations (which has sub-
committees working on two aspects of this topic), the
Commission on Worship hopes that a statement from
the joint study by the two commissions may be ready
for distribution to the delegates by the time the Synod’s
convention meets at Denver in July 1969.

Personnel

Since the New York convention of the Synod the
commission has had the services of its executive secre-
tary with its offices and its library in the Lutheran
Building in St.Louis. Its working committees have
given unstintingly of their time and energy in prepar-
ing the materials for Worship Supplement: Liturgical
Text Committee — Rev. Herbert F. Lindemann, chair-
man, Rev. Hans C. Boehringer, Rev. Prof. George W.
Hoyer, Rev. Dr. Adalbert R. Kretzmann, and Rev. Dr.
Fred L. Precht: Music Committee — Dr. Paul G. Bunjes,
chairman, Dr. Theodore A. Beck, Prof. Jan O. Bender,
Dr. Richard W. Hillert, Mr. Edward W. Klammer, Prof.
Herbert Nuechterlein, and Prof. Carl F. Schalk; Hymn
Text Committee — Rev. Jaroslav J. Vajda (SELC),
chairman, Rev. Hilton C. Oswald, and Rev. E. Theo.
DeLaney. Rev. Martin L. Seltz, who had served long
and faithfully as a member of the commission and of its
Hymn Text Committee, was called home by the Lord
in October 1967. Rev. Stephen M. Tuhy (SELC), a
member of the Liturgical Texts Committee, was called
home in December 1967. A number of hymn texts in
Worship Supplement serve as a memorial to Pastor
Seltz’s consecrated and zealous labors. President Harms